Waiting Rooms, Use Thereof

I’ve spent a lot of time in waiting rooms – especially since my wife had her stroke. And while waiting rooms, particularly doctors’ waiting rooms, are not the most fun atmosphere, I find waiting rooms very useful because I’m always prepared.

How do you prepare for a waiting room?

I prepare by keeping a pouch loaded with my tablet computer, magazines, my glucose meter, insulin and a few small candy bars. I can spend hours in waiting rooms (I have!) and I’ll always have something to do.

With my tablet computer, I can write blog posts (like this one), create to-do lists, and read pdf files of magazines, books, or articles – and that’s without a connection to the internet. And since a lot of medical offices now offer internet access, I can work on my website(s) or research topics or take care of emails.

When I can’t (or don’t want to) use my tablet computer, I keep several magazines that I haven’t read handy. Most magazine articles can be read within 5-10 minutes and interruptions are not that much of a problem. And let’s be honest, the magazines in most waiting rooms are what I call “women’s” magazines – they are focused on “life” issues which I find boring. And it’s interesting to me how many times I’ve had some man ask me for the magazine I’ve been reading (“Sorry, Woodworker’s Journal is not available. It’s mine.”)

For times that I may get low blood sugar, my glucose meter is always on hand with some candy, just in case. And if I’m out and need to eat, I have my insulin. It’s all part of my self-care system. I need to pay attention to my body’s needs, but I don’t have to panic.

Finally, for really desperate times, there’s always mahjong or solitaire on the computer – they can pass the time!

A physicist by trade, author by choice, a born teacher, a retired veteran, and an adamant problem solver, Frank has helped the White House, federal agencies, military offices, historical museums, manufacturers, and over 250 technology startups get stuff done, communicate effectively, and find practical solutions that work for them. In his spare time, he makes sawdust and watches Godzilla movies.